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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Many of you know that although I love writing, it has been a second career. Although I've been traditionally publishing books on a fairly steady yearly basis for nearly the past 10 years, traditional publishing is NOT a steady paycheck. Thus, I've always worked full-time in my marketing career, writing on the side (mostly nights and weekends).

I began ghostwriting for others a couple years ago. While not for everyone, ghostwriting works for me because 1) I love to write, but I hate to toot my own horn and market myself, 2) I don't care if someone else takes credit for something I write, and 3) I write super-fast.

I started with a few clients who were friends, but over the past 8 months, that has just grown exponentially. I had about 10 core clients that kept coming back for book after book. In 2018 alone, I've already written 10 books. Thus, I found myself working 2 full-time jobs and basically never seeing my family. SO, I decided something had to give, and now.... (drum roll, please!)....

I AM A FULL-TIME WRITER/ GHOSTWRITER/ EDITOR/ BOOK DOCTOR!

Woo hoo! Yes, I'm a little nervous at this point that I won't be able to continue with as much work as I have right now, but I've decided to take the leap, since writing is my passion. I love helping writers transform an idea into a real novel, or helping writers shape their books into something they can be proud of. I've worked with both new authors and USAT and NYT bestselling authors, people who have made writing their career and those who just want to get the book inside them, out... I DO NOT DISCRIMINATE!

So what does this mean for you? If you've thought about hiring a ghostwriter, editor, or writing coach, hit me up. I'm very flexible, fun to work with, and at this point, very affordable (catch me on my way up!)! And I've been told I write good (har). Check out the ghostwriting services tab on my website and send me an email at cyn@cynbalog.com. Though I am booked through most of the summer, now that I'm full-time I can move much faster, and I would love to put you on my calendar for my next opening!

Monday, September 25, 2017

Oh, gosh, it's been awhile, huh? Well, here's my 2017 update. (I hope it won't come to me posting yearly updates, but now that I look and see I haven't posted at all this year, I'm worried for myself).

ALONE (Sourcebooks, November 7, 2017) is coming!

Here's a little blurb:

When her mom inherits an old, crumbling mansion, Seda's almost excited to spend the summer there. The grounds are beautiful and it's fun to explore the sprawling house with its creepy rooms and secret passages. Except now her mom wants to renovate, rather than sell the estate―which means they're not going back to the city...or Seda's friends and school. As the days grow shorter, Seda is filled with dread. They're about to be cut off from the outside world, and she's not sure she can handle the solitude or the darkness it brings out in her. Then a group of teens get stranded near the mansion during a blizzard. Seda has no choice but to offer them shelter, even though she knows danger lurks in the dilapidated mansion―and in herself. And as the snow continues to fall, what Seda fears most is about to become her reality...
Reviews are already coming in.

"Each new bit of information builds, andin a house full of potential victims, readers will be compelled to rush and unravel the twisted mystery.
A bloody, wonderfully creepy scare ride." - Kirkus“Even
careful readers will be caught off guard by twists and unexpected but
divine surprises. This first-rate thriller delivers everything a
thriller should, and adds
more. With a wink and a nod to Stephen King’s The Shining, Balog
provides a shocker for the young adult crowd.” -- VOYA, 5Q 5P "Perfect 10"
So yep. There's a twist. And then another twist. And then if I haven't screwed with your brain enough by then, there's still another twist.

Also, if you like twists (I do, too, obviously) and haven't had a chance to read UNNATURAL DEEDS, you should! It's coming out in paperback in November and the new cover is, as my dad is fond of saying, TO DIE FROM. Poor mothy.

So that's all I have to say right now. More soon! (Because 2018 is soon, right?)

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Hello! I am Cyn Balog,
your hostess for this leg of the hunt.
About Me
I'm the author of seven novels, my most recent one, UNNATURAL DEEDS, is coming out November 1 from Sourcebooks Fire!
You are currently hunting on TEAM GOLD.

Before you go looking for it, check out the amazing author I’m hosting.

But, first, a few rules.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES

DIRECTIONS:

Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on TEAM GOLD, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!)
HINT: THE SECRET NUMBER IS HIGHLIGHTED IN GOLD!

ENTRY FORM: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

RULES: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY, October 9, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating YA author, you also get a secret number. Add up the numbers, and enter it for a chance to win a major prize–one lucky winner will receive at least one book from each author on my team in the hunt! But play fast. This contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until noon PST on Sunday, October 9th!

There are NINE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GOLD TEAM but there is also a RED TEAM, BLUE TEAM, ORANGE TEAM, PINK TEAM, PURPLE TEAM, TEAL TEAM, SILVER TEAM & GREEN TEAM! Check out each team for a chance to win nine different sets of signed books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I’ll introduce the author I am hosting on this hunt.
I am super excited to be hosting…

Sharon Biggs Waller!

About Sharon:

Sharon Biggs Waller is the author of the critically acclaimed young adult novel A MAD WICKED FOLLY. She discovered her love for gardening when she moved to England in 2000, and for the natural world when she became a national park ranger in the 1980s. THE FORBIDDEN ORCHID is her second novel and a Junior Library Guild selection.

About THE FORBIDDEN ORCHID:

The adventures of a British girl in China, hunting for the orchid that will save her family.

I heard Sharon spends 13 hours a day writing, which is why her books are so amazing.

And now, an exclusive video from Sharon!

From Sharon: Research through books and original content is fabulously helpful when writing historical fiction, but when I can, I try to travel to the settings in my book. With THE FORBIDDEN ORCHID it was only possible to go to England—my funds didn’t stretch far enough to go to China, although I had some wonderful help with friends who knew the country very well. For my YASH content I put together a little slideshow of some of the places I visited. The song playing is an old Welsh tune called Saucy Sailor and it’s sung by the Wailin’ Jennys. If you know where this song appears in the book, enter it in the comments section on my website, www.sharonbiggswaller.com, and I’ll send one lucky winner a neato prize!

And don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me and many more!

Just check out all these books on team gold,
YASH GOLD TEAM FALL 2016! To enter, you need to write down my favorite number, find all the other numbers on TEAM GOLD, add them up, and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

Thank you so much for visiting my website!
Ready to move on to the next link in the hunt?

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Time Flies. I can't believe we're only a month away from the release of UNNATURAL DEEDS! Yep, it's coming out November 1.

I've also sold audio rights to Forever Young Audiobooks, so I'm thrilled to say that an audiobook will be coming out sometime in December!

I've talked about my less-than-glamorous release days before, but this one is different!! Because I'm going to have a launch party (my first since Fairy Tale in 2009)!!! It's happening on November 13 at the Center Valley, PA B&N at 1PM. There will be fun and shenanigans, if I can get my shenanigan suit on. If you can be there, I'd love to see you!

A novel of infatuation and obsession, Unnatural Deeds has an electrifying ending that readers won't see coming.

Victoria Zell doesn't fit in, not that she cares what anyone thinks. She and her homeschooled boyfriend, Andrew, are inseparable. All they need is each other. That is, until Zachary Zimmerman joins her homeroom. Within an hour of meeting, he convinces good-girl Vic to cut class. And she can't get enough of that rush.

Despite Vic's loyalty to Andrew, she finds her life slowly entwining with Z's. Soon she's lying to everyone she knows in an effort to unravel Z's secrets. Except Z's not the only one with a past. Victoria's hiding her own secrets, secrets that will come back to haunt her...and destroy everything in her path.

"Like a PG-13 version of Gone Girl (2012), Balog's (Dead River, 2013, etc.) latest tells the tense and tragic story of three teens mixed up in a world of murder, obsession, and mental illness... A page-turner that will keep readers riveted, this is a treat for mystery fans and will keep readers guessing right up until the end."" - Kirkus

"Unnatural Deeds is a compelling, dark confessional with pages that keep you guessing and an ending that will blow you sideways." - Natalie D. Richards, author of Six Months Later and One Was Lost

Monday, June 27, 2016

Hi, there! I'm still alive, still writing books, and can't wait for some of my new ones to release!

First, there's Unnatural Deeds, coming out November 1, 2016! It's a twisty, dark contemporary thrilled, and this is what it's about:

A novel of infatuation and obsession, Unnatural Deeds has an electrifying ending that readers won't see coming.

Victoria Zell doesn't fit in, not that she cares what anyone thinks. She and her homeschooled boyfriend, Andrew, are inseparable. All they need is each other. That is, until Zachary Zimmerman joins her homeroom. Within an hour of meeting, he convinces good-girl Vic to cut class. And she can't get enough of that rush.

Despite Vic's loyalty to Andrew, she finds her life slowly entwining with Z's. Soon she's lying to everyone she knows in an effort to unravel Z's secrets. Except Z's not the only one with a past. Victoria's hiding her own secrets, secrets that will come back to haunt her...and destroy everything in her path.

So far, reviews have been trickling in, not that I try to pay much attention to them. But so far people have been extremely kind and flattering of it, which makes me happy.

Coe is one of the few remaining teenagers on the island of Tides. Deformed and weak, she is constantly reminded that in a world where dry land dwindles at every high tide, she is not welcome. The only bright spot in her harsh and difficult life is the strong, capable Tiam—but love has long ago been forgotten by her society. The only priority is survival.

Until the day their King falls ill, leaving no male heir to take his place. Unrest grows, and for reasons Coe cannot comprehend, she is invited into the privileged circle of royal aides. She soon learns that the dying royal is keeping a secret that will change their world forever.

Is there an escape from the horrific nightmare that their island home has become? Coe must race to find the answers and save the people she cares about, before their world and everything they know is lost to the waters.

I’ve heard tales about the sun and the moon. My mother used to tell me they were never in the same place in the sky, and that once, people would tell the time of day by them. She was never fortunate enough to see such a thing with her own eyes, but her own parents spoke wistfully of them often, making the world above, the world lost to us so many years ago, seem magical and fantastical.

In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would see that world.

Spoiled, pampered Aliah has found her way to someplace very different from her technologically-advanced underground world. A place where people fight for survival, and even the king is a violent savage. The inhabitants of this place are all coming to terms with a frightening reality: Inch by inch, the kingdom of Tides is dying.

But are these people truly lost? The more time she spends with King Wallow, the more she begins to settle in, and forget the life she left behind. Still, this kingdom is not kind, and there are horrors and secrets behind every wall. Is it possible to survive, or is finding a way back home her only chance?

The last two books will come later this year and sometime next year. I'll tell you about those soon! :)

So, what else have I been up to? Well, not much. Let's see. I recently became a consultant for Perfectly Posh because I LOVE their products. Crazy, right? I never thought I would ever sell anything like this, but I love it so much I had to feed my addiction. I am having so much fun doing it! If you haven't checked them out, please do! And hit me up at my Posh group on facebook or via email at cyn at cynbalog dot com because I LOVE talking about Posh almost as much as I like talking books. Which says a lot!!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

I've been waiting to announce this for what seems like ages-- though it really hasn't been. But I've been excited, and time always seems to drag when you're waiting for something! So without further ado, here it is:

I am so excited to have sold my 8th contracted book! This one is a little different-- a twisty dark contemporary. As the title, taken from Macbeth, would suggest, UNNATURAL DEEDS is also a story of obsession, desire, and betrayal. It's about a shy and awkward girl named Vic who meets the suave, effortlessly popular new boy at school named Z and gets in way over her head.

My path to this book deal wasn't easy. I had quite a few starts and stops while writing it, and many people told me it wouldn't sell. Not to mention, the market for YA is ever-tightening as more and more YA books crowd the market. So I'll be honest and say I had little hope for the book when it went on submission this March, despite the fact that several people were VERY passionate about it. I had amazing readers who are also amazing authors in their own right-- all of whom were very positive about the book. But most positive of all was Mandy Hubbard, who has been my critique partner for over 10 years and is also now my agent. When was considering shelving the book, she looked at it and said, "Pfft, I could sell this," and gave me a list of changes to consider.

So I made her edits and I'm happy to say that I had interest from editors and sold UNNATURAL DEEDS faster than any book I've ever put out on sub, in a little over one month.

Which just goes to show you how subjective this business is, and why you should never give up. It only takes one person to fall in love with it.

So now, instead of waiting for the announcement, I'll switch to waiting for the day I can finally share the finished book with you. Fall of 2016 will be here in a heartbeat!